Baltic states

The region of Europe composed of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. These are the only countries of the former Soviet Union that managed to fully integrate with the West (they joined both the EU and NATO) and successfuly finished their transformation into democratic societies with market-oriented economies. This is partially also thanks to their experience with their own statehood before WWII. Lithuania as the biggest of the three countries used to be a great power in the past, the Latvian capital Riga is a natural centre of the region, and Estonia is well known as a pioneer in new technologies and e-government. The three countries are currently worried first and foremost by their social cohesion, decreases of their populations, and their security situation as it is affected by Russia.